Islamic State suicide attacks on Iraq security posts leaves 13 dead

Coordinated Islamic State suicide attacks targeting Iraqi government security posts have killed 13 people north of Baghdad, as security forces repelled more suicide attacks by the extremists in Anbar province, authorities said on Saturday.

Coordinated Islamic State suicide attacks targeting Iraqi government security posts have killed 13 people north of Baghdad, as security forces repelled more suicide attacks by the extremists in Anbar province, authorities said on Saturday.

Four suicide bombers driving explosive-laden cars rammed into two security checkpoints and a military headquarters in the Al-Hajaj area within a 15-minute span, killing 13 Shiite militiamen and troops and wounded a further 24, according to the police.

Al-Hajaj lies on the road between Beiji and Tikrit in Salahuddin province. The key refinery town of Beiji has been the scene of fierce fighting between Islamic State militants and government troops who, backed by Shiite militias, seized control of the town's center a few days ago.

Meanwhile, police said that security forces had repelled Islamic State suicide attacks near the town of Garma, which is east of the militant-held city of Fallujah.

The attackers used four suicide cars in the assault that left no casualties among the government forces, they said.

Recently received US anti-tank missiles were used to destroy the suicide cars, police and military officials there said.

Hospital officials confirmed the casualty figures from the Salahuddin province attacks. All officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak to journalists.

Iraqi forces, backed by Shiite militias and US-led airstrikes, have been struggling to regain control of the vast areas lost to the Islamic State group during its victorious push into the Iraq last year.